Manager at Planet Fitness Declines Aid Request: Refused to Provide Defibrillator to Man Suffering Outside Facility
Chilling Allegations Against Planet Fitness
A distressing episode unfolded at a Planet Fitness gym in Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania, leading to a lawsuit against the fitness giant and its local franchisee. At the heart of the lawsuit, filed in a Philadelphia court, is the shocking claim that the gym's manager refused to aid a man, Guy Harris, who was suffering a heart attack outside the club.
As reported by NBC News, Guy Harris, a 46-year-old father of two, collapsed near the Planet Fitness outlet in January. His grieving spouse, Taniqua Morene-Harris, has taken legal action, alleging that the club's manager displayed a callous disregard, denying access to an AED during a critical life-or-death situation.
Harris had been driving his son for an after-school snack when he succumbed to a heart attack. Parking a short distance from the gym, he was attended by his son who called 911 and enlisted the help of passersby.
Among those on the scene was a bystander with medical training, who began administering CPR to Harris. Another bystander urged customers exiting the gym to request the AED, located within the club premises, citing Harris's dire condition.
The lawsuit alleges that two patrons approached the club to request the AED, but were met with a shocking refusal from the manager. By the time emergency services arrived, Harris had reportedly been attended by bystanders and continued CPR efforts. He was eventually taken to a local hospital but was sadly pronounced dead later that day.
The lawsuit implicates both Planet Fitness Inc. and Keystone NFP Clifton LLC, the franchisee and operator of the Clifton Heights location. The exact reasons behind the manager's apparent refusal remain unclear.
Elizabeth Crawford, an attorney representing Taniqua Morene-Harris, believes the manager's actions were nothing short of a deliberate decision to withhold life-saving measures. In such situations, a deployed AED could make the crucial difference between life and death, Crawford stated.
While specific details concerning the manager's reasoning have yet to surface, similar cases often accuse gym staff of neglecting to use or provide AEDs, typically citing a lack of training, confusion, fear of liability, or equipment accessibility and functionality issues.
The lawsuit seeks a jury trial, seeking damages for Taniqua Morene-Harris's extreme emotional distress, pain, and loss following her husband's untimely death. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the crucial role AEDs play in emergency situations and the potential consequences of Negligence.
- The shocking allegations against Planet Fitness detail that, during a critical life-or-death situation, the gym's manager refused to provide access to an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), a device vital for cardiovascular health and general-news-worthy for health-and-wellness purposes.
- The lawsuit involving Guy Harris's heart attack outside a Planet Fitness outlet implicates the fitness chain and its franchisee in a claim of negligence, as two patrons allegedly sought the AED but received a refusal, which could have potentially saved Harris's life and alleviated Taniqua Morene-Harris's pain and emotional distress.
- In light of the allegations against Planet Fitness, the medical-conditions aspect highlights the importance of AEDs and proper training in gyms to address cardiovascular emergencies, while the crime-and-justice angle examines the legal ramifications of alleged negligence in such situations, with potential consequences that may impact general-news coverage.
